Public Observation #2022-898

Observation Details

Signs of Unstable Snow

None reported

Observations

Tumalo Bowl, c. 0600 was super hard wind-slab from winds that shifted late yesterday from prevailing W to prevailing E. The Bowl itself was low boot penetration, very stiff styrofoam wind slab (nasty skiing). Hand shear test mid-slope (result: medium/hard) detected the buried surface hoard (about 30cm down). Probe depths were consistently in the 185-200cm range, suggesting no wind transport out of the bowl but rather just hard-packing the existing snow (plastering it) to the slope itself. Tree skiing back to Dutchman Flat was preferred and there was widespread surface hoar resulting from the very cold overnight temps.